Dr. Victor C. Cañezo, Jr., President of Biliran Province State University (BiPSU), delivered a congratulatory message during the launch of the Global South Futures Community (GSFC), held on May 23 via Zoom. The event, which gathered educators and practitioners from the Global South, aimed to promote a collaborative and inclusive approach to future-making.

The GSFC is an organization dedicated to democratizing the field of foresight, emphasizing the amplification of narratives, knowledge, and methodologies from the Global South. Its mission includes fostering a network that supports a just, equitable, decolonized, and diverse approach to envisioning the future. It seeks to bridge gaps, facilitate dialogues, and co-create spaces where diverse languages and indigenous knowledge play a central role.

As the President of BiPSU and Chairperson of the Futures-Thinking Consortium of Higher Education Institutions in Eastern Visayas (EV), the Flexible Learning Management System Consortium, and the Philippine Association of State Universities in Region 8, Dr. Cañezo expressed his enthusiasm for the initiative and its alignment with the work being done in EV. He stated, "The vision of GSFC—to create a world where the rich diversities of nature, language, and culture are seen as strengths that enable multiple futures to flourish—resonates deeply with the work we’re doing in Eastern Visayas."

The event also featured notable figures such as Ms. Alana Poole, Deputy Head of UN Futures Lab; Mr. Fu Zhiyong, Associate Professor at Tsinghua University; Dr. Yousef Al-Assaf, President of Rochester Institute of Technology-Dubai; Mr. César Santivañez, Founder of the Latinamerican Futures Network; and Ms. Gabriela Ramos, UNESCO Assistant Director for Social and Human Sciences.

Dr. Cañezo praised the GSFC’s mission to promote inclusivity and foster collaboration, highlighting its importance for educators and practitioners in the Global South. "In our roles as educators and practitioners, especially in the Global South, we have a unique opportunity to ensure our perspectives and wisdom are not just heard but integrated into the global conversation about our collective futures," he remarked.

He concluded his speech by acknowledging the efforts of Prof. Shermon Cruz and the GSFC team. "Thank you, Prof. Cruz, for leading this transformative initiative. Congratulations once again to the entire team. Let’s make the futures of the Global South bright, diverse, and equitable."

The GSFC launch marks a step towards creating a more inclusive and equitable future, with a focus on the rich and diverse perspectives of the Global South.

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